Unique Drake and Jillian Archer Ink Professional Contracts in Europe

Unique Drake and Jillian Archer Ink Professional Contracts in Europe

7/15/2024 11:52:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Archer signs with PAS Giannina in Greece, Drake inks deal with Polisportiva Battipagliese in Italy

QUEENS, N.Y.– Former St. John's women's basketball standouts Jillian Archer and Unique Drake signed professional contracts in Europe.

Archer inked a deal with PAS Giannina in Ionnina, Greece and will compete for the squad inA1 Women's Basketball League, the top division in the country. Drake signed to play for Polisportiva Battipagliese in Italy and will compete in the top-flight Serie A.

Following on of the most impressive single-season jumps in program history, Drake will now move into the professional ranks. After winning BIG EAST Sixth-Woman of the Year honors in 2022-23, the guard increased her scoring average by nearly double-digits. The Columbia, S.C., native tallied 18.4 points per contest, the highest scoring average by a Red Storm player since Danejah Grant eight years ago.

One of the most prolific scorers in program history, Drake is one of three players to ever score more than 35 points in multiple games in a season. The redshirt senior poured in 36 in a double-overtime win at DePaul on Jan. 25. In the WBIT First Round at Florida, she shattered a postseason record exploding for a career-high 37 points in Gainesville.

During her final campaign, Drake recorded four 30-points performances, 14 20-plus point outings and finished in double-figures in 27 contests. The guard shot 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The longtime Johnnie shined on the national stage at the Women's College Senior All-Star Game in Cleveland, the site of the NCAA Tournament Final Four. Drake went for 27 points to lead all scorers on 12-of-21 shooting and recorded three steals. She was named the game's MVP for her outstanding performance against the nation's top graduating players.

Drake nailed 79 3-pointers, which ranks third-most in program history. On Nov. 19, Drake matched the program's single-game record after sinking 7 3-pointers in a 67-47 victory over Manhattan.

Drake was unanimously named All-BIG EAST First Team and tabbed an All-Met First Team selection. Throughout the year, she was twice named BIG EAST Player of the Week and MET Player of the Week. She made 147 appearances for the Red Storm the most ever by a St. John's men's or women's basketball player and ended her career 11th on the all-time scoring list accumulating 1,442 points.

After finishing up her college career, Archer signed her first pro contract in April and shined for the Willetton Tigers in Australia. Archer averaged a team-high of 19.1 points and 11.3 rebounds in 13 games. The Santa Monica, Calif., native shot 60.2 percent from the floor during her time in Willetton.

The 6-foot-2 forward spent her final two collegiate at St. John's after stops at Georgetown and USC. She was a mainstay in the frontcourt starting 64 of 65 possible games during her time with the Red Storm.

In 2023-24, the forward started all 33 contests and averaged a career-high 11.3 points per game on 59.8 percent shooting from the floor, which set a program single-season record. Additionally, she averaged a team-high 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest.

Archer was the only player in the BIG EAST to rank top-20 in scoring (19th at 11.3), top-10 in rebounding (8th at 7.6), top-3 in field goal percentage (1st at 59.8) and top-3 in blocks (3rd at 1.6). She finished the year with nine double-doubles and scored in double-figures in 23 contests.

For the first time, she received All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention recognition and was twice tabbed to the conference's weekly honor roll.
During her first year with the Johnnies, she helped guide the squad back to the NCAA Tournament and averaged 7.2 points and 7.7 boards per game.

Under Head Coach Joe Tartamella, 15 former players have signed professional contracts all over the world, including four who were drafted into the WNBA.